sleeper



0.8. SLEEPER.

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

.MPucmou FILED mmza. mu. 1,321,153.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 7 I11. uerz F61 & 1

0. S. SLEEPER. DISTILUNG APPARATUS. APPLICATION mzo v4.2a. mu.

1 32 1 1 3 3. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

which the material to be treate UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER S. SLEEPER, OI BUFFALO YORK, ASSIGNQOR '10 BUFFALO FOUNDRY &: MACHINE COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YOBK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DISTILLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letterslfhtent. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed January as, 1918. Serial mfaiaioo.

'Bufl'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Distilling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a distillin apparatus which is more particularly designed for distilling materials which condense and congeal at high temperatures, say above 212 degrees Fahrenheit, such as beta-na hthol, although the same'ma also be used or distilling other materia s such for instance as, para phenylene diamin, diphenylamin, al ha-na hthylamin, beta-naphthylamin, alp a-nap thol, etc. {I It is the object of this invention to produce a distilling apparatus whereby materials of this character may be distilled economically, expeditiously and safely and without encountering the usual difliculties attendin the methods heretofore employed for disti ling these materials, especiallyin subliming.

My invention has the further object to so organize the ap aratus that the vapors of the material un or treatment are positively prevented from reaching the vacuum pump or other exhausting device and also to prevent any of the neutralizing solution which is employed for protecting the vacuum pum against corrosion from flowing backwar 1y through the apparatus when the vacuum is broken and spoiling or undoing the work which has been accomplished.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in secs.

tion, of a distilling apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 1s a front elevation, partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Similar characters of reference refer tolike parts throughout the several views.

' The material to be treated is first heated so as to vaporize the same, this being best accomplished by 'placing the same in a retort 1 which has an opening 2'in its to through is introduced into the retort and also an outlet 3 ,in its top through which the" vaporsescape from the retort. This filling opening is normally closed by cover 4. The heating of the retort may be effected in any suitable manner, this being effected for example, by

the means which are shown in the drawings and which comprise a furnace having a heating chamber 5 in which the lower part of the retort is arranged and afireplace 6 in which fuel is burned for supplying the heat to the heating chamber.

As the vapors escape from the outlet of the retort they are received by. a condenser which liquefies the same. In its preferred form this condenser comprises a pipe 7 which has a downwardly turned inlet end 8 connected with the outlet of the retort and a downwardly turned discharge or outlet end 9 and the body of this condenser pipe inclines from its inlet toward its outlet end, as clearlyshown in Fi 1. After the vapors from the retort pass t rough this condenser the same become liquefied and flow from the inlet to the outlet end thereof.

10, 10 represent tworeceivers into one or the other of which the product of condensation from I the" condenser is discharged. These receivers are preferably arranged side by side and each of the same ably comprises a hollow body 11 having an inlet at its front end which may be opened and closed by means of a lid or door 12 movably mounted on the body of the respective receiver and adapted to be tightly secured over the frontopening thereof by any suitable means. outlet the condenser is connected with inlets 14 in the top of the two receiving chambers b means of twobranch pipes or conduits 1%. The latter are connected with the outlet of the condenser by means of a three-way valve 15 of any suitable construction so that the condenser may be placed in communication with either one of the branch pipes and disconnected from the other so that the condensation from the condenser flows into one of the receivers, thereby leaving the other refer- At the lower end of the i receiver free to be opened for emptying,

each receiver observation means are provided which preferably comprise a box forming a part of the respective branch pipe at the discharge end of the same and a. pair of observation windows 16, 16 arranged on opposite sides of this box thereby enabling the attendant to observe the character of the liquid which flows from each branch pipe into the respective receiver and to operate the apparatus accordingly.

To facilitate the removal of the condensate from the receivers a pan 17 is placed in each receiver through the front opening thereof and in a position to receive the condensate entering through they top of the receiver. When the pan in one receiver is filled to the desired extent with condensate the three-way valve 15 is turned so as to cut off this particular receiver from the condenser and connect the latter with the other receiver, so that the further discharge of the condenser will be directed into the pan within the last mentioned receiver. This will leave the operator free 'to open the receiver containin the filled pan and replace the filled pan t erein with an empty one preparatory to again reversing the threeway valve when the pan in the receiver then in operation has been filled to the required extent. This enables the apparatus to be operated without interruption until the batch of material under treatment has been completely distilled.

In order to expedite the distilling operation means are provided for producing a vacuum} in the receivers and the conduits connected therewith. This exhausting device withdraws from the receivers any uncondensed vapors and as the same in some cases, for instance when distilling betanaphthol, are more valuable than those which are collected in the pan 17, means are rovided for recovering such vapors whic escaped from the receivers. The vapors in the case of lbeta-naphthol when leaving the receivers usually have the form of a fine snow or dust and the means for treating such dust laden vapors for separab ing and recovering this dust are preferably constructed as follows:

18 represents a delivery pipe which has its inlet end provided with two branches 19, 19 connected respectively with the top or upper sides of the two receivers each of these branch pipes containing a valve 20 so that the delivery pipe may be connected with either one or the other of the receivers as required.

From the pipe 18 the uncondensed vapors pass into a dry separator which is adapted to separate any dust or snow like product which may be present in the uncondensed vapor withdrawn by the exhausting device from one or the other of the receivers. This dry separator preferably comprises a. cham- .connected by a pipe 28 leading to the outber 21 which is provided with an inlet 22 and an outlet 23 on opposite sides of its upper part and a battle 24 extending downwardly from the top of this chamber between its inlet and outlet. The inletis connected with the discharge end of the delivery pipe 18 while the outlet of this chamber is subject to the influence of the exhausting device used in connection with this apparatus. As the uncondensed vapors pass from the discharge pipe 18 into the upper .removed through a discharge passage or pipe 1 25 containing a valve 26 which controls this exit. If this dust has solidified in the bottom of the chamber 21 the same can be melted by applying heat to the lower part of this chamber in any suitable manner so.that the condensate flows in the form of a liquid outwardly through this discharge pipe 25.

After the uncondensed vapors leave the outlet of the dry separator the same are passed through a trap which is designed to prevent any back flow of liquid or acid from a point beyond this trap to the dry separator, receivers, condenser and retort. In its preferred form this trap comprises a chamber 60 having an inlet 27 in its top which is let of the dry separator and'a discharge pipe 30 extending downwardly from the upper part or top of the chamber 60but terminating short ,of the bottom thereof.

The connecting pipe %8 contains a valve 29 whereby communication between the dry separator and the trap may be either main-' tained or interrupted. If desired any liquid which may get into the trap chamber 60 may be withdrawn through a pipe 31 connected'llfi with the bottom thereof and containing a valve 32. The temperature of the chamber 60 may be controlled as desired by means of a jacket 33 surrounding the same and adapted to receive steam or other heating medium if it is desired to prevent vapors passing through this chamber from congealing or a cooling medium such as cold water may be circulated through this jacket for the purpose of reducing the temperature of, the vapors passing through this chamber, the particular temperature changing medium which is circulated through the jacket 33 being governed by the character of the material under treatment. 13o

The'uncondensed vapors entering the trap rapidly after entering the pan 17 and can chamber through the inlet at the top thereof be easily removed therefrom 1n the form pass downwardly through this chamber and of a cake by slmply inverting the pan. thence upwardly through the outlet pipe I claim as my invention: thereof and then are subjected to the se'pa- 1. A distilling apparatus compris ng a rating action of a liquid separator or neuretort, a condenser connected with said retralizer which neutralizes any acid or cortort, 'a receiver connected with said conrosive medium in the vapors before the latdenser, a separator comprising a chamber ter reach the vacuum pump or other exhaving an inlet and an outlet on opposite hausting devic This liquid separator or sides of its upper part and a baflle extending neutralizer comprises a chamber 34 having "downwardly from the top of said chamber an outlet 35in its top which is connected by between said inlet and outlet said inlet bemeans of a pipe 36 with the vacuum pump i connected with said receiver, and an or other exhausting device and an inlet pipe e austing device connected with the outlet 37 which extends downwardly from the top of said separator.

of this chamber and terminates at its lower 2. A distilling apparatus com rising a end short of the bottom thereof while its retort, a'condenser connected wit said reupper end connects with the outlet pipe 38 tort, a receiver connected with said cono f thetrap. Within the lower part of the denser, a separator comprising a chamber llqllld separator is placed a charge of liquid having an inlet and an outlet on opposite solution which intercepts and neutralizes ides of its upper part and a baflle extendany acid or corrosive elements contained in mg downwardly from'the top of said chamthe vapors which should not reach the vacu er between said inlet and outlet, said -inum pump. When distilling beta-naphthol let being connected with said receiver, a a the quantity of caustic soda solution placed trap comprising a chamber having an inlet in the lower part of the liquid separator is at ts top which is connected with the outsufii'cient to submerge the lower end of the let of said separator and an outlet pi e exinlet pipe 37 and as the vapors pass from tending downwardly from above sai trap the inlet pipe 37 outwardly through this chamber and stopping short of the bottom caustic soda solution to the outlet of the thereof, and an exhausting device connected liquid separator, and any acid or corrosive with said outlet pipe.

element in the vapor is taken up by this so- 3. A distilling apparatus comprising a lution, thereby preventing the same from retort, a condenser connected with said rereaching the vacuum pump and affecting tort, a receiver connected with said conthe same injuriously. When desired the sodenser, a separator comprising a chamber 1 lution may be withdrawn from thelower having an inlet and an outlet on opposite part of the'liquidseparator 34 by means of sides of its up er part and a baifie extenda pipe 39 connecting with the bottdm thereing downwardly from the top of said of and containing a valve 40. chamber between said inlet and outlet, said for any reason the vacuum should be inlet being connected with said receiver, a broken or the operation of the vacuum trap ,comprisin a chamber having an inlet pump should be lnterrupted the backward at its top which is connected with the out pressure of air in the liquid separator let of sa1d separator and an outlet pi exwould cause the caustic oda solution and tending downwardly from above sai trap acid therein to be forced outwardly therechamber and stoppmg short of the bottom from into the lower part of the trap chamthereof, a 'acket inclosing said trap chamber 60 but since the inlet 27 of this last her and adapted to receive a temperature mentioned chamber is arranged at the top changing medium, and an exhausting dethereof the l1qu1d which is drawn from the vice connected with said outlet pipe. llquid separator into the trap cannot escape 4. A distilling apparatus comprising a m the latter and reach either the dry retort, a condenser connected with said reseparator, receivers, condenser or retort. tort, a receiver connected with said conhe liquid separator therefore protects the denser, a separator comprising a chamber pump against corrosion by acid or the like having an inlet and an outlet on opposite and the trap protect the retort condenser, sides of its u er part and a baflle extendreceivers and dry separator from the effects ing downward? I of the caustic soda solution and the acid ber between said inlet and outlet, said inlet contained therein. It is therefore possible being connected with said receiver, a trap operate this apparatus with perfect comprising a chamber havin an inlet at its safety to all of its parts without liability of top which is connected Witfi the outlet of spoilmg any of the condensate which has said separator and an outlet ipe extending already been recovered, thereby facilitating downwardly from above said trap chamber the operation of the apparatus and reducand stoppmg short of the bottom thereof a ing the cost of obtaining the distillate. gravity liquid separator having an i et The beta-naphthol condensate congeals connected with the outlet pipe 0 said trap, 13'

and an exhausting device connected with said liquid separator.

5. A distilling apparatus comprising a retort, a condenser connected with said retort, a receiver connected with said condenser, a dry eparator comprising a. chamher having an inlet and an outlet on opposite sides of its upper part and a baflie extending downwardly from the top of said chamber between said trap comprising a trap chamber having an inlet at its top which is connected with the outlet of said dry separator and havin an outlet 'pipe extending downwardly from inlet and outlet, a

the top of the trachamber and terminating short of the ttoln thereof, a liquid se arator having a se arating chamber a apted to receive liqui in its lower part and having an inlet pipe which connects with the outlet of said trap chamber and extends downwardly from the top of said liquid separating chamber but terminates short of the bottom thereof and which hasan outlet at its top and an exh-austin de vice connected with the outlet of said liquid 25 separator.

OLIVER s. SLEEPER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,321,133, granted Notrember 11. 1919, upon the application of Oliver S. Sleeper, ef Bufialp Netv York, for an imprevement in Distilling Apparatus, an error amide-rs the printed specifieaticn 're'quiring correction as follows: 1, line for the numeral -20 l eari 280;and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiop therein that the same may conform tethe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2d day of December, A. 1)., 15 9.

n. H. COULiSTON, Acting of Patents. 

